The Datai

The Datai Langkawi

Hotel Class: 5 out of 5 stars5 Stars - 4 Reviews and 564 Opinions

Jalan Teluk Datai, Pulau Langkawi, Kedah, 07000, Malaysia

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95%

of people enjoy staying here

4.5 our of 5 stars 568 Opinions

Excellent
 
472
Very Good
 
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Average
 
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Poor
 
12
Terrible
 
7

Our Members Say

  • yipsufen profile photo
  • Reviews: 651

5 out of 5 starsUser Rating

An Exclusive Resort Amidst Lush Greenery



Unique Quality: We head to this resort out of curiousity to find out how exclusive it is. Yes, it's really exclusive and preferred by the rich & famous.

First of all, it has its own private access road leading to the resort which is a few kilometres long from the main road.

Secondly, the resort has a golf course and every parts of the resort is accessible using its buggy service.

Thirdly, staff are friendly even we are not guests but just curious "visitors".

The resort doesn't have the usual design of a lobby. Instead, it's a small alcove with sort of customer service desk for check in. The main area exudes an oriental & mysterious charm. At the centre of the lobby is a lotus pond with drangonflies happily hovering around. The coffee terrace is overlooking this pond.

I do not have the chance to see the resort's private beach. I believe it's accessible via the swimming pool but have to walk some distance amidst the lush forest in order to reach there.

  • Opinion of Price: most expensive
  • Related to: Romantic Travel and Honeymoons, Golf, Luxury Travel
The Datai Photo: Lobby of The Datai

The Datai Photo: Lobby of The Datai

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  • janiebaxter profile photo
  • Reviews: 574

5 out of 5 starsUser Rating

3.5 out of 5 starsHelpfulness

Beach, Rainforest and Luxury

The Datai is on the Northwest tip of Langkawi, 30 minutes drive from the airport. Its idyllic setting overlooking the Andaman Sea surrounded by virgin rainforest makes it a wonderful secluded retreat where you can swim, snorkel, windsurf, sail, walk in the rainforest or just relax and enjoy the spa, the beach and the natural surroundings. There is also an 18 hole golf course.
The hotel is a member of the small leading hotels of world and standards are very high here - from the staff knowing your name when you phone for a service to the rooms, restaurants, spa, food and all levels of service. The beach is swept every morning and cold flannels are brought around to you as you lie on the beach. Having said that we found it good value for money compared to other luxury hotels of the same standard we have stayed in.
Our room was a Rainforest villa which was set apart from the main building high up in the forest, looking out over the tree tops. It was very large and comfortably luxurious, decorated with natural materials.
The walkways and paths down to the beach and to the other parts of the hotel take you through the beautiful forest, where you can see birds, geckos and other wildlife. All the walkways are hilly and quite steep, so the Datai is not suitable if you have difficulty walking or getting around.
There are 3 restaurants - Malay and Western food in main restaurant, Thai food in the Pavilion overlooking rainforest and the Beach club by the sea for lunch al fresco or in the shade.
The Datai shares a bay with The Andaman, another luxury hotel, but has its own large beach area with shady trees and sunbeds, and an excellent small bar tucked away just behind the beach where they serve wonderful cocktails at Sunset with complimentary satay.
The Spa is one of the best I have experienced, in a beautiful location with one side open to the rainforest.
This is one of those hotels you just don't want to leave.

Unique Quality: Top class service at a reasonable price (compared to other luxury hotels in the world).
Stunning location set in virgin rainforest in a beautiful Bay.
Everything we wanted was right here - we didn't need to leave the hotel.

  • Opinion of Price: about average
  • Related to: Jungle and Rain Forest, Beaches, Luxury Travel
The Datai Photo: Datai Jungle Villa room overlooking the rainforest

The Datai Photo: Datai Jungle Villa room overlooking the rainforest

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  • SurfaceTravel profile photo
  • Reviews: 275

5 out of 5 starsUser Rating

sets a new standard for excellence

This is the best hotel we have ever stayed at, bar none, and we have stayed at quite a few of those in Leading Hotels of the World. It has, in fact, raised our expectation levels to a new plateau such that it has been very difficult to be satisfied at other hotels ever since.

Upon arrival the bell men took the car away, took our luggage, and escorted us to check-in. The lady there immediately escorted us to the lounge area nearby overlooking the rainforest and offered us complementary drinks. As we drank, she took our details and checked us in. Then she escorted us to our room.

We stayed in an End Suite as the Pool Villas had all been booked. The suite was gigantic and beautifully furnished. The rain forest comes right to the edge of both balconies in spite of being three floors up. Signs say to keep the doors closed when not there because of monkeys. Sure enough, I stepped out of the living room for two minutes, came back in, and there was a monkey on the coffee table eating the complementary fruit. It ran away before I could take a picture.

Children cannot swim at the upper pool, but our daughter loved the one down by the beach anyway. Staff will take you back and forth to the beach in golf carts if you don't want to take the ten minute walk.

We went on the night time nature tour and I sailed on the hotel sailboats, all inclusive. The restaurants were magnificent and the staff able to read your mind.

All in all, it was perfect.

  • Opinion of Price: most expensive
  • Related to: Romantic Travel and Honeymoons, Jungle and Rain Forest, Spa and Resort
The Datai Photo: The hotel beach, looking north to Ko Tarutao

The Datai Photo: The hotel beach, looking north to Ko Tarutao

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  • munkeh profile photo
  • Reviews: 1

5 out of 5 starsUser Rating

2.5 out of 5 starsHelpfulness

Paradise found!!

The most beautiful resort/hotel built sympathetically in the middle of a rainforest

Unique Quality: Wildlife - monkeys, birds, the list goes on and you are surrounded by them. You can watch them from your room or even share the walk to the beach with them!!

Staff - outstanding service, always smiling and friendly - nothing is too much trouble

location- beautiful beach and rain forest

free nature walks with expert - also able to do a night visit to a 'hide' in the forest - all free!

food - gorgeous and spicy!

rooms - even the basic rooms are amazing - if you can afford it go for a corner suite in the main building

spa - heaven, lying there being massaged watching the monkeys playing in the little stream by your own private spa villa!!

  • Opinion of Price: most expensive
  • Related to: Jungle and Rain Forest, Romantic Travel and Honeymoons, Spa and Resort
The Datai

The Datai


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More about The Datai

The Datai Langkawi

by wufei

Accommodation at The Datai consists of 54 deluxe rooms, 35 villas and 18 suites. All have spectacular views of the natural landscape from the verandahs.

The deluxe rooms feature a combined bedroom and living area with balcony. Rooms are furnished with a king-size bed, private bar, a writing desk and two comfortable day beds. The spacious bathroom and dressing room feature twin vanities, bathtub and shower.

The individual freestanding villas are built high up in the tropical rainforest, connected to public facilities by a series of pathways scattered throughout the forest. They feature a private deck with sun lounges and an elevated verandah which can be used for private dining.

The corner and end suites include a spacious bedroom with en suite bath, a large bedroom and separate living area with dining table. All suites open out to a spacious balcony.

The Datai Suite has two bedrooms, an expansive living room with separate dining area along with a fully equipped kitchen. Surrounded by a large balcony finished in sandstone, it provides panoramic ocean views.

Pool villas have all the features of villas plus a private deck with daybed and 3 metre x 4 metre plunge pool.

The Datai’s four Pool Suites are located down near the beach next to the Beach Club. Every two suites share a living and dining area linked by covered walk-way, where there is also a fitted kitchen.

It is necessary to reserve two pool suites in order to enjoy privacy in this area. The four suites which also feature a private swimming pool for the use only by Pool Suites guest, are ideal for families or two couples.

5 Star Rain Forrest Experience

by Andrewlloyd about The Datai

Oh my god, wasnt quite ready for this amazing 10 night experience.
Ist night I wanted to leave, by the end of the holiday i loved everything about the place.
Stayed in infamous villa 42, where large snake was found by maid in morning just a couple of weeks early, dont worry though if you keep the air-con cold the snakes dont like it !
It stated in the villa do not feed the monkeys from your balcony, but i couldnt resist. I broke a banana in half and threw the 2 pieces down onto the forrest floor beneath. To my horror a huge lizard dashed out and grabbed one piece and a hideous black spider engulfed the other, no sign of cute monkeys, couldnt believe it ..welcome to the Datai.

Fantastic Datai

by A TripAdvisor Member

This was an amazing hotel. We were on Honeymoon and we were upgraded free of charge to a villa. The rooms, food and service were the best we have ever had. A truly amazing experience and one that we would reccomend to anyone. Out of this world!

The datai is perfect!

by TripAdvisor Member clairebielecki

This was by far the most superb hotel my husband and I have ever stayed in! Usually, however much people enjoy holidays, there can be one or two niggles. However, this hotel is faultless! The personal welcome at the amazing open air lobby bar by the brightly coloured lilly pond with a drink on arrival is the perfect start to the holiday as you overlook the pool and take in the beauty of the sea and the mountains and the trees. We had a free upgrade to a villa which was out of this world. All dark wood floors and furniture, a huge bed, walk in shower, bath with incense and bath salts and molton brown toiletries - it really was fantastic. There were bathrobes and slippers too and I particularly appreciated the small touches of bookmarks with pictures and poems aboout the wildlife and the flowers which were left for us at the nightly turn down service. (My husband was more appreciative of the bottles of wine and fruit and pancakes which were often left for us at the same time!). Although the villa was a bonus, the hotel rooms looked very big too and would not disappoint. The 3 restaurants are of the highest standard both regarding food and service. The dining room is the most expensive a la carte resaurant with western and malaysian cuisine where you sit outside overlooking the pool which is lit up with the surrounding tea lights. The Pavillion is the thai restaurant which was superb and in a lovely setting on stilts in the forest and the beach restaurant has the added bonus of allowing you to listen to the waves as you dine. The food was simply the best we had ever had in a hotel. There is no dress code for dinner - I guess it is assumed peple will dress appropriately as indeed they do but there is no requirement to wear a tie or jacket for the men as you sometimes find in European hotels which take themselves far too seriously. All the staff at the hotel were very friendly and genuinely seemed to want the people there to have a fantastic time. Iced water was brought to everyone round the pool at regular intervals as were iced towels. The pool attendant was very helpful as were all the waiters and waitresses. The beach area is magnificent - so tranquil and idyllic and the perfect place to walk off some of the amazing meals we had! There is a library with internet access so my husband was able to keep up with the cricket scores too! This is a quiet hotel - if there were 10 people round the huge pool while we were there I would be amazed. The sun longers are big and wooden and with vey comfy matresses. There is a separate children's pool further down by the beach so this kept everyone very happy! The hotel is built in the hills so there are many steps to the different locations of the hotel, but this is a very pleasant walk through the rainforest which does provide a welcome respite from the sun! Although there is not a wealth of things to do at night, we were perfectly happy lingering over our meal before going to the lobby bar for a night cap whilst listening to the talented duo who sang with keyboards and bass guitar. There are board games in the bar too. There are complimentary excursions provided by the hotel and you can walk to the Andaman, the sister hotel. However, we were far too lazy for any of this! All in all, this was a fantastic holiday - the best we have ever had and definitely the benchmark for future holidays!

The Queen Of Them All

by TripAdvisor Member TravelBug79

I would like to simply say that I agree whole heartedly with the favourable reviews posted on The Datai.

For spa-aholics who travel to the top notch resorts all over the world, 3 to 4 times a year, I must say in all honesty this is my favourite.

The service is unsurpassed, as is the astonishing rainforest in which the resort is based.

This is a winner, time after time. Congratulations to The Datai.

The most wonderful place!

by A TripAdvisor Member

My husband and I spent a week of our honeymoon at the magical Datai and loved every single little thing about the place. (we then went onto Pangkor Laut which in comparison was a big disappointment). The Datai main hotel was beautiful with the jungle growing all around you drinking Pimms at the bar watching the jungle and the shimmering Andaman sea is something else. We stayed in a pool villa which had one of the most comfortable beds I have ever slept on and the villa was huge and gorgeous. The staff were increible, always addressing you by your name (v. appreciated when you are first married!) and the service was fantastic, the food great, the upper pool lovely and quiet and the beach just beautiful. Can't fault it we just can't wait to go back.

Photos

Datai BayDatai Bay

Datai bayDatai bay

The Datai beachThe Datai beach

Datai BayDatai Bay

Forum Posts

Datai or Andaman??

by LeiaC

Hi, ok well I posted a question a while ago to which I have had loads of very helpful responses- thanks to all who added some ideas of where to stay in Langkawi!

We have now decided to splurge and stay four nights at the Datai or Andaman, and then move somewhere cheaper. But HOW DO WE CHOOSE WHICH ONE??? People sing the praises of both and I really don't know which to go for! Any comments would be welcomed... particularly comparison of romanticness / friendliness / activities / beauty etc!

Many thanks!!

Re: Datai or Andaman??

by Bestd

We're going there for our honeymoon next month (1 week in the Tanjung Rhu and 1 in the Datai)
Must admit we had the same problem as you not knowing which one - my girlfriend wanted to go to the Datai, and I wanted to go to the Andaman!
Several years ago the Andaman was bought by the Datai, and the Datai spent a bit of money upgrading it to the same style/value. As the two are only 400 m apart or so, and owned by the same company I dont think theres a lot of diference. Also guests from the hotels are allowed to use the others facilities, almost making your choice irrelevant.
We decided to go for the Datai, as there seems more writen about it in travel articles/magazines and I have not read one bad thing about it. It is reputed as being one of the best hotels in Asia. In a recent interview Jodie Kidd (model) said she went there a couple of years ago and it was the best holiday she ever had.

I know thats not much help, but i seriously think you can't go wrong with either!

Re: Datai or Andaman??

by vicki1

hi,

Main difference between two hotels Datai and the Andaman is the size, the Datai being much smaller and more personal, also its recognized as being a member of the Leading Hotels of the World chain which I don't think the Andaman is. Both are very secluded but you do have the opportunity to use all the facilities of both hotels as previously mentioned in another reply. I too am going to the Datai this November for 11 nights and cannot wait. I have contacted the hotel and got pricelists faxed to me and cost wise the Datai is equivalent to eating out at a decent restaurant in the UK, however because the cost of taxis on the island is extremely reasonable there are restaurants around that are certainly on my list to try when Im there. Hope you have a great time and let me know how you get on when you return

vicki1

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munkeh profile photo

 Wildlife - monkeys, birds, the list goes on and you are surrounded by them. You can watch them from your room or even share the walk to the beach with them!!

Staff - outstanding service, always smiling and friendly - nothing is too much trouble

location- beautiful beach and rain forest

free nature walks with expert - also able to do a night visit to a 'hide' in the forest - all free!

food - gorgeous and spicy!

rooms - even the basic rooms are amazing - if you can afford it go for a corner suite in the main building

spa - heaven, lying there being massaged watching the monkeys playing in the little stream by your own private spa villa!! 

25 members live in Pulau Langkawi

 

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 The Datai

We've found that other people looking for this hotel also know it by these names:

Datai Langkawi
The Datai Hotel Langkawi

Address: Jalan Teluk Datai, Pulau Langkawi, Kedah, 07000, Malaysia

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